‘Vyapari Sangarsh Samiti’ (VSS), the trading community in Surat, the country’s biggest man-made fabric (MMF) wholesale market, has appealed to the traders to abstain from purchasing fresh stock grey fabrics to oppose the central government’s failure in providing relief under GST to them, despite reduction of this rates on textile job work from 18 percent to 5 percent.

A meeting called by textile traders association was stormy with most traders wanting to launch an agitation. It was unanimously decided in the meeting that the traders will adorn black ribbon today and keep the textile markets shut on June 15 (tomorrow).

Samiti president Tarachand Kasat said that they are demanding uniform GST structure in the entire textile value chain. The traders will have to pay 5 percent GST, but they won’t be able to get input tax credit. On the other hand, the cloth manufactured by composite units will be much cheaper. This will lead to joblessness in the sector.

After the bandh tomorrow, they will meet the officials concerned in the government. If the GST Council fails to accept their demand for uniform GST in textile sector, they will launch an indefinite agitation from July 1.

– Apparel and Textile News, Apparel Talk, Indian Apparel